Convertible furniture



p 1929- J. v. WILSON 1,727,145

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Filed March 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I i l Q J-Km'lson p 92 J. v. WILSON 1,727,145

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Filed March 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J K W11 8071' Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

JULIUS VASSIE WILSON, OF HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO LUCY K. WILSON, OF HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE. I

Application filed. March 29, 1928. Serial No. 265,694.

The present invention relates to convertible furniture, preferably of the type known as davenport, which can be extended to form a bed. The object is to provide a novel structure by which the sections that make up the bed structure are more compactly folded within the lower portion of the davenport frame.

A further and important object is to pro- 1 vide a structure in which the sections are very effectively supported and held in their extended relation so that the dang-er of collapse isavoided.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the frame-work in its extended relation to constitute a bed,

Figure 2 is a similar view, but with th structure folded to produce a davenport.

Figure 3 is a view with the parts partially.

folded or unfolded. I 1 I Figure 4 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the supports for the head section when in its operative position. Ii

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of one of the foot section holding hooks.

Figure 6 is an'end elevation of the same.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view 'of one of the connections of the spring fabric with the body section. In the embodiment disclosed, a main frame 8 is provided, including end pieces 9,

having suitable arms 10 and a back'wall 11.

swung between an operative position, 'as

shown in Figure 2 and to a position out of the way, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

It will be understood that these frames can be finished and upholstered in any manner i said springs are put under additional tendesired. V. v

The bed structure comprises three sections. A body section 14 is pivoted at its rear end and as shown at 15 to the frontend portion of the main frame 8. It comprises an open frame with end bars 16 and cross bars 17, said frame constituting a seat struc ture for the davenport when folded within the main frame in a manner well understood. The end bars 16, it will be noted, have wid ned en portions 18 and 19, wh ch a Y of the main frame.

A swinging back frame 12is pivoted, as

upwardly extended when the seat member is in its extended position as illustrated in Figure 1. A head section 20 is provided, comprisin end bars 21 connected at their rear ends y a cross bar 22, and having their other ends wider, as shown at 23, and adapted to abut against the inner widened end 18 of the body section. Said portions 18 and 23 are connected by hinges 24. Obviously with this arrangement, when the body section 14 is swung into the main frame 8, the head section will be lowered, as shown in Figure 2, and when said body section 14 is swung outwardly, the head section will be raised, as illustrated in Figure 1.

In order to firmly support the head section when thus raised and at the same time permit it to lower, two supports are provided. Each of these supports consists of an upper link 25 and a lower link 26 pivoted together, as shown at 27, the upper link being pivoted at its upper end, and as illustrated at 28, to one end bar 21 of the body frame 20, the lower link being pivoted between its ends, as shown at 26 to the lower portion of an end wall 9 of the main frame. The lower link 26 terminates at its lower end in an offset car 29, to which is connected a rearwardly extending coiled spring 30, secured, as shown at 31, to the rear portion In addition there is an abutment head 82 carried by the end bar 21 of, the head section 20 and so disposed that when the head section lowers, as indicated in Figure 8, it will cause the links 25 and 26, which are in alined position, as shown in Figure 1, to swing rearwardly against the action of the spring 30. vConsequently as the body section 14 is swung on to the head section 20, said head section will be pressed down against the action of the springs and sume a position where the outer ends of the end bars 21 will abut squarely against the end bar 16 of the body section and this abutting action is firmly maintained by the pri g fabric of the be herein ft r described.

There is also provided a foot section 33, comprising end bars 34 connected at their outer ends by a cross bar 35 and having their inner ends enlarged, as shown at 36, and coacting with the enlarged ends 19 of the end bars 16 of the body section 14. These end portions 19 and 36 are connected on their upper ends by hinges 37 so that obviously the foot section will swing between a folded position on the body section and an extended position in alignment therewith and with the end portions 19 and 36 squarely abutted as illustrated in Figure 1." For the purpose of firmly supporting the outer end of the body section 14, legs 38 are fixed thereto and are connected by a cross piece 39 and braces 40 are preferably employed for said legs 38. In like manner, provision is made for firmly supporting the foot section 33. This is accomplished by means of legs 41 pivoted at their upper ends and as shown at 42 to the end bars 34 of said foot section 33. The legs 41 have their lower ends pivotally connected as shown at 43 to links 44 that are pivoted as illustrated at 45 to the fixed legs 38. Consequently when the foot section is swung to its folded position, the legs 41 will be swung until they assume a position alongside the end bars 34, as illustrated in Figure 3. To hold the foot section in'its folded position on the body section, hooks 46 are pivoted as shown at 47 on the enlarged portions 18 of the end bars 16 of the body section and engage over the free end of said foot section, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In this structure, a spring fabric constituting the bed bottom is provided. This may be the usual link construction and is shown at 48, so that it is readily flexible. Its side edges are secured by coiled springs 49 to angle irons 5O fastened to the various end bars 16, 21 and 34 of the different sections. Its end edges are connected by coiled springs 51 to the rear cross bar 22 of the headsection 20 and the outer cross bar 35 of the foot section 33, so that it is always under transverse tension and is also under longitudinal tension when the bed is extended as shown in Figure 1. When so extended, it will be noted that the spring fabric is located at a point below the axes of the hinges 24 and 37, thus firmly holding the ends of the various side bars in abutting relation. More than that, theline on which the outer end portion of the fabric swings when the foot section is swung (which line is indicated at A in Figure 1), is by reason of the connec-' tion of the springs 49 below and in rear of the axis of movement of the foot sectlon.

The result'isthat there is a dead: center created. by the pulPof the springs 51 when the foot section is swung that causes the raising of said section to be resisted until a certain po1nt'1s reached, whereupon the foot section can be easily swung to its folded position. This same resistance of course occurs on the opening movement until the dead center is passed, whereupon the springs pull the foot section to its fully open position and maintain it in such position.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art,

without further description and it will be understood that. various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the permitting the elevation of the head section when the bodyis swung outwardly from over thehead sectionand an abutment carried by the head section andpressing against the upper link in the lowering movement of the head section to relatively swing'the links to folded position. i

2. In a folding structure of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of a body section pivotally mounted thereon, a head section pivoted to the body section and located within the frame and a folding support for the head section comprising links pivoted together andto the frame and head section, said links swinging to folded position when the body section is swung to a position over the head section and thereby lowering the head section,and reversely swinging to supporting relation and permitting the elevation of the head section when the body is swung outwardly from over the head section, a spring con-,

nected to one of the links at one side of its pivot.mounting for causing their relative movement in one direction on a corresponding movement of the head section, and means for causing the'links to relatively move in an opposite direction on the corresponding movement of the head section. y

3. In a folding structure of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of a body section pivotally mounted thereon, a head section pivoted to the body section and located within the frame, and a folding'supportfor the head section comprising upper and lower links pivoted to-,

gether and to the frame andhead section,

said links swinging to folded position when the body section is swung to a position over the head section and thereby lowering the head section, and reversely swinging to supporting relation and permitting the elevation of the head section when the body is swung outwardly from over the head section, a spring connected to the lower link at one side of its pivot mounting for causing their relative movement in one direction on a corresponding movement of the head section and an abutment on the head section and engaging the upper link for causing the links to relatively move in an opposite direction on the corresponding movement of the head section.

4. In a folding structure of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of a body section pivoted at one end and below the upper side of the section to the front side of the main frame, a head section hinged to the body section above the said pivotal connection and having a rising and falling movement in the frame upon the swinging movement of the body section, sets of supporting links for the head section, each set comprising pivotally connected 11 per and lower links, the lower links being pivoted between their ends to the frame, springs engaged with the lower endsof the lower links, the upper links being pivoted to the head section, and abutments on the head section that engage the upper links and cause the links during falling motion of the head section, to relatively swing against the action of the springs.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JULIUS VASSIE WILSON. 

